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Curtain Up!

THE PARTY A night of breathtaking music—and a dash of drama—was in store for the more than 3,300 black-tie guests who convened at the Civic Opera House for the opening night gala and Opera Ball hosted by the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Women’s Board. THE SCENE After the welcome reception and stunning performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello, more than 500 guests hopped on complimentary shuttles that whisked them to the Hilton Chicago for the lavish Opera Ball, where their arrival was announced by a group of trumpeters. The elite crowd mingled over cocktails before heading to the lavishly appointed Grand Ballroom for a dinner of poached pear salad, filet al forno and lemon ricotta tart, followed by dancing to the Stu Hirsh Orchestra. By the end of the evening, approximately $900,000 was raised for the Lyric. THE HIGHLIGHTS At the close of Act I, it was announced that singer Falk Struckmann, playing Iago, had fallen ill. His understudy, Todd Thomas, was swiftly called into action and delivered a stirring performance that garnered a well-deserved standing ovation from the entire audience. Photography by Cheri Eisenberg and Jaclyn Simpson